"Marshall is still making history and making an impact on Alabama and our
world," Goldman said in
an address to lawmakers

Lawmakers today honored Marshall for its role in space exploration and
for its economic impact in Alabama. Legislators presented a resolution honoring
Marshall. Goldman spoke to a joint session of the Senate and House saying that
"our past accomplishments and our future successes are intertwined."

"With your support, Marshall Space Flight Center pledges to keep making history every day, exploring space, learning more about our planet, inspiring the youth who will take our place, improving the quality of life for all and making Alabama proud," Goldman said.

Goldman said Marshall has a
$2.9 billion economic impact, according to a 2009 study. With 5,500 government
and contract workers, it is the third largest employer in Huntsville with 90
percent of employees having a four-year college degree or higher.

The center that developed
the Saturn V moon rocket in the 1960s, Goldman said, is now developing NASA's new Space Launch System designed to
"take us exploring again beyond Earth's orbit with people and robots in ways
that aren't possible today."

Goldman said Marshall is not just about rocket development. Marshall
scientists used satellite data to track the path of destruction from last
year's tornado outbreak. Marshall also helped track and study the 2010 Gulf of
Mexico oil spill.

Goldman told lawmakers that Marshall is part of the state's heritage and
one of its valuable resources, "no less valuable to the future of Alabama than
our waterways and coastline -- our
farms and auto industry - our educational institutions and our culture."

As part of the celebration, NASA exhibits dotted the hallways of the the
State House. A space shuttle engine was parked in front of the State House.

Astronaut T.J. Creamer, who lived and worked aboard the space station for
six months, was part of the NASA contingent at the State House.

Creamer said the same quest for exploration that pushed America to the
moon in the 1960s is alive and well.

"At the moment we are trying to go farther. We're trying to go to the
moon, Mars and beyond and get to places where we have not been before because
we want to learn so much more," Creamer said.